West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has revived the controversy surrounding Mamata Banerjee’s leg injury during the 2021 Assembly election campaign, alleging that the former chief minister had falsely portrayed the severity of the injury.
Adhikari claimed on Saturday that a medical document from the time showed no evidence of a fracture or dislocation. He said his government would examine the matter and indicated that more details would be made public after October 9, when the Model Code of Conduct related to the ongoing bypolls is expected to end.
“Mamata Banerjee faked her leg injury during campaigning in Nandigram in 2021. We have the medical report which stated that there was no evidence of fracture or dislocation. We will initiate an investigation into the matter,” Adhikari said.
Adhikari has claimed that he obtained a copy of the relevant medical document after becoming chief minister. He has said the report was prepared during Banerjee’s treatment following the March 2021 incident in Nandigram.
What Happened To Mamata Banerjee In 2021?
Banerjee was injured on March 10, 2021, while campaigning in the Birulia area of Nandigram, where she was contesting the Assembly election against Adhikari.
At the time, Banerjee initially said that she had been pushed by unidentified people and was injured after hitting the open door of her vehicle. She later gave another account, saying that a large crowd had pressed against her vehicle during the campaign.
She was taken to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital for treatment. Her medical assessment at the time referred to injuries involving her left ankle and foot, and she subsequently appeared at campaign events in a wheelchair.
The incident became a major political issue during the 2021 Bengal election campaign.
Adhikari Says Probe Will Follow
Adhikari said the government would examine the documents and investigate the circumstances surrounding the injury claim.
He has linked the timing of any further action to the Model Code of Conduct currently in force because of Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The chief minister said he would provide additional details after October 9.
The medical document cited by Adhikari has become the basis of his latest allegation. Reports on the document say it records no evidence of fracture or dislocation, while the broader medical history from 2021 involved other reported injuries to Banerjee’s leg and foot.
TMC Rejects Suvendu Adhikari’s Allegation
The Trinamool Congress has rejected Adhikari’s claim.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh questioned the argument that the absence of a fracture would mean Banerjee had not suffered a serious injury.
“Who told the chief minister that bandages are required only if there is a fracture? If someone is severely injured or the injury is similar to fracture, even then bandages are required,” Ghosh said.
He also questioned how Adhikari could be certain about the absence of a fracture and accused him of using his position as chief minister to make such claims.
The renewed controversy comes more than five years after the Nandigram incident and ahead of the current bypolls, bringing one of the most contentious episodes of the 2021 Bengal election campaign back into the political spotlight.
